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The Boss is back in town. Trademark filing points towards new track-oriented Ford Mustang variant.
Ford has signalled its intention to revive the ‘Boss’ nameplate, pointing towards a new track-ready variant of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang.
According to US outlet Ford Authority, a trademark filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Ford’s behalf mentions the name ‘Boss’ pertaining to goods and services under the description of: “Motor vehicles, namely, gasoline and electric passenger automobiles, sports cars, pick-up trucks, sport utility vehicles and their structural parts.”
The Boss nameplate was first used in 1969 as a standalone variant of the first-generation Ford Mustang. It typically denotes a more serious or track-oriented Mustang, as was seen with the original Mustang Boss 302, which was based on a homologation requirement for Ford to go Trans Am racing.
Although Ford hasn’t used the Mustang Boss name since the fifth-generation 2012 Mustang Boss 302, the company is not shy of a special edition. Ford already has multiple hardcore Mustang variants for the newest seventh-generation model in the Mustang Dark Horse and Mustang GTD.
While news of the ‘Boss’ trademark filing in the US is significant enough, a European trademark filing uncovered by CarMoses relates to the more specific name ‘Dark Horse Boss’, potentially signally an even more hardcore variant of the track-oriented Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
There are no additional details left on the European Union Intellectual Property Office listing, leaving little detail to go on.
However, there is space in the Mustang stable for a more serious Mustang Dark Horse, considering the next-best variant is the ultra-exclusive and high-priced Mustang GTD.
“Any time we develop a project (like the Mustang GTD), we always try to think about how we can be smart with new components – or when we’re developing things,” Mustang GTD chief engineer Greg Goodall told Drive.
“Anytime we do something, we try to learn, we try to reuse, and we try to make that portable.
“Exactly our plans, can’t share that, but we’re always trying to get smarter, and we’re always trying to apply that new knowledge somewhere else.”
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse was limited to 1000 units in Australia and all units were accounted for even before the model arrived in the country in September 2024.
Tom started out in the automotive industry by exploiting his photographic skills but quickly learned journalists got the better end of the deal. With tenures at CarAdvice, Wheels Media, and now Drive, Tom's breadth of experience and industry knowledge informs a strong opinion on all things automotive. At Drive, Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, advice, and holds a special interest in long-form feature stories.
